LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Whether you are walking in the city or driving around the suburbs, we continue to see cranes, commercial projects, and construction workers everywhere. New construction or renovations, we can see the region’s potential for new opportunities and change. It’s a beautiful thing.

Tapping into our potential requires having the right resources – most importantly, human capital. As such, the theme of this issue of Construction Today is Building Capacity.

Developing a robust, diverse, and highly skilled construction workforce is a priority for GBCA and our members. This means that we, as an industry, need to first ensure that careers in commercial construction are accessible.

Union construction careers are sought after because the industry supports its workforce through equal pay and benefits. We recognize more can be done to help make these careers a reality for more Philadelphians. The Carpenters’ Apprentice Ready Program is just one example of how GBCA and our members are introducing careers in carpentry to individuals who previously thought these opportunities were out of reach.

Once in the door, we also need to make sure that individuals who are new to the industry have the resources necessary to navigate the work, in terms of both technical skill and professional acumen. That’s why we are offering more online training resources designed to build a well-rounded workforce.

Driving positive change is what GBCA is all about, and we are moving in the right direction.

Benjamin J. Connors, Esq., CAE

President & CEO General Building Contractors Association